In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the metro is running again to the great relief of the population

The metro in Dhaka, Bangladesh's notoriously congested capital, resumed operations a few days ago after being closed for more than a month at the height of student protests that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled for 15 years.

Dhaka is one of the world's most densely populated cities and the 20km-long metro is a key means of transport in this sprawling megacity of some 20 million people.

"I am very happy that it is working again. It is a great relief," said Saheen Sultana, a 40-year-old bank employee, after weeks of struggling due to traffic jams on the roads.

The elevated metro system was shut down in mid-July during student-led protests. During the deadly violence that left hundreds dead until Hasina resigned and fled on August 5, stations were vandalized by mobs.

Its reopening, a sign of a return to normal, was decided by the new interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, 84.

“Without the metro, I had to take the bus to work and face terrible traffic jams,” says Kaosar Khan, a 25-year-old speech therapist who works at a private hospital in the city. “It took two hours by bus, but with the metro, I can reach my destination in 15 minutes.”

Hasina's government has been accused of widespread rights abuses, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings of political opponents. But the Dhaka metro, which is set to open in December 2022, is considered one of the most significant infrastructure projects of her term.

On Sunday, some passengers said the subway attack had tarnished the reputation of the protesters. “Why harm the nation by destroying public property? We must protect our national property, regardless of political parties,” said Sharmin Sultana, 55, a housewife traveling with her young daughter.